Thai cultural mandates

Thai poster from the Cultural Mandate era demonstrating prohibited dress on the left and proper dress on the right.

The Cultural Mandates or State Decrees (Thai: รัฐนิยม; RTGS: ratthaniyom; literally 'State fashion' or 'State customs') were a series of 12 edicts issued between 1939 and 1942 by the government of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram during his first period as Prime Minister and military dictator of Thailand. The mandates aimed to create a uniform and "civilized" Thai culture at the time when the country was on the side of the Axis powers. Many of the practices initiated in the mandates were a result of Thai entered World War II and remain in effect today.

One result of this mandate was that organizations with 'Siam' in the name were forced to change their names. Well-known examples include the Siam Society, which became the Thailand Research Society, Siam Commercial Bank, renamed to Thai Commercial Bank, and Siam Cement, which became Thai Cement. After Pibulsonggram was deposed the first time in 1944, Siam Society reverted both its Thai and English names, while the latter two reverted only the English version of their names.

On preventing danger to the nation, issued 3 July 1939, consisted of five items:

"Thai people must not engage in any business without considering the benefit and safety of the nation."

"Thai people must never reveal anything to foreigners that might damage the nation. These actions are a betrayal of the nation."

"Thai people must not act as agent or spokesman for foreigners without considering the benefit of the Thai nation, and must not express opinion or take the side of foreigners in international disputes. These actions are a betrayal of the nation."

"Thai people must not secretly purchase land on behalf of foreigners in a way that endangers the nation. These actions are a betrayal of the nation."

"When a person has betrayed the nation, it is the duty of Thai people to actively and quickly put a stop to it."[2]

On honoring the national flag, national anthem, and royal anthem, issued 8 September 1939, consists of five items:

"When seeing the national flag raised or lowered according to government custom, or hearing the sound of the salute bugle or whistle, or when the signal is given to raise or lower the flag, honor the flag according to regulation or custom."

"When seeing a military flag, naval ensign, Youth Corps flag, or Boy Scout flag in an official procession, or on location at a military, Youth Corps, or Boy Scout site, honor the flag according to regulation or custom."

"When the national anthem is heard, whether played for official purposes or as part of any kind of ceremony, participants or attendees will honor the anthem according to regulation or custom."

"When the royal anthem is heard, whether played for official purposes, at the theater or any gathering, participants or attendees will honor the royal anthem according to regulation or custom."

"When observing any person not paying proper respect as outlined in items 1, 2, 3 and 4, admonish them so as to see the importance of honoring the national flag, national anthem, and royal anthem."[4]

Urging the Thai people help build the nation, issued on 21 March 1940,

"Every Thai person must help build the nation. Every able bodied person must work at a stable career. Any person without a career is unhelpful to the nation and is not deserving of respect from the Thai people."[8]

On language and writing and the duty of good citizens, issued 24 June 1940, consisted of four items:

"Thai people must extol, honor and respect the Thai language, and must feel honored to speak it."

"Thai people must consider it the duty of a good citizen to study the national language, and must at least be able to read and write; Thai people must also consider it their important duty to assist and support citizens who do not speak Thai or cannot read Thai to learn it."

"Thai people must not consider place of birth, residence, or regional accent as a marker of division. Everyone must hold it to be true that all born as Thai people have the same Thai blood and speak the same Thai language. Place of birth or accent makes no difference."

"Thai people must consider it their duty to conduct themselves as good Thai citizens should, and to urge and instruct those who do not yet know and understand their duty as to the duties of a good citizen of the Thai nation."[10]

The 1941-42 Thai cultural mandates, promulgated by Plaek Pibulsonggram, made sweeping changes in Thai culture. Modernization influence made that the traditional costumes of women such as the one shown were discouraged by the government, in favor of more 'modern' forms of dress

This 1900 portrait shows a Thai woman in a traditional costume that was deemed inappropriate after the laws on Thai dress were enacted in the early 1940s.

On Thai dress, issued 15 January 1941, consisted of two items:

"Thai people should not appear at public gatherings, in public places, or in city limits without being appropriately dressed. Inappropriate dress includes wearing only underpants, wearing no shirt, or wearing a wraparound cloth."

On daily activities, issued 8 September 1941, consisted of five items:

"Thai people should divide their time into three portions. One for work, one for personal activities, and one for rest and sleeping. This should be orderly and follow a schedule until it becomes habitual."

"Thai people should carry out their normal personal activities as follows:

"Eat meals at set times, no more than four daily;

"Sleep approximately 6-8 hours."

"Thai people should faithfully perform work duties without discouragement or shirking. The midday rest and lunch period should be no longer than one hour. At the end of the working day, exercise by playing sports for at least one hour, or other activities such as gardening, caring for pets, or planting trees. Then, after showering, eat dinner.

"Thai people should use their free time at night to complete necessary work, converse with family and friends, seek knowledge by listening to radio news or reading, or other entertainment or arts, as opportunity permits."

"Thai people should use days off to benefit their bodies and minds by participating in religious activities, listening to sermons, making merit, seeking knowledge, traveling, playing sports, or resting."[12]